- By Srishti Pandey
- Fri, 28 Feb 2025 10:27 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Hidden Love had audiences hooked, with many, including myself, binge-watching all 24 episodes in a matter of days. Building on this success is The First Frost, a heartfelt spin-off featuring a pivotal character from Hidden Love. This new series beautifully extends the slow-burn, secretive romance from Hidden Love, promising yet another heartfelt narrative.
The First Frost begins on a bitter note with Zhang Ruonan turning down her childhood crush Bai Jinting due to circumstances that will be revealed later. Cut to the present, and the two cross paths as adults, reawakening long-lost feelings and a flurry of emotions. This slow-burn romance is packed with unspoken love, youthful chemistry, and strong emotions, unfolding in a joyous manner as destiny brings Zhang Ruonan and Bai Jinting under the same roof.
The First Frost is available to stream on Netflix. Giving fans a little more than Hidden Love, which had 25 episodes, this series features 32 episodes. Currently, 17 episodes of The First Frost are available for Netflix viewing. The release schedule for the upcoming episodes is as follows:
Episodes 16 and 17 are now available on Netflix.
Episode 18 - March 3
Episode 19 - March 3
Release times may vary, so viewers are advised to check Netflix periodically for updates. Episode 20 and the ones following it are expected to be released in the upcoming days.
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Apart from Bai Jinting and Zhang Ruonan, this bittersweet romance also stars Edward Chen, Zhang Miaoyi, Zhai Xiaowen, Paul Chun, Nina Paw and Kong Lin.
If you haven’t yet watched Hidden Love (you are missing out on a gem), you can still enjoy The First Frost, as both narratives are independent stories that share a small link. The First Frost puts the spotlight on the love life of Sang Yan, the protective and goofy older brother of Sang Zhi from Hidden Love. Small references to his love life were made in Hidden Love, but this series is dedicated to his forgotten romance.
The characters of Sang Zhi and Duan Jiaxu make sprinkled appearances in The First Frost, but fans of Hidden Love will be disappointed as Zhao Lusi and Chen Zheyuan are not playing the cameos. As the romance unfolds, there will be more clarity on whether the makers have planned an overlap of Hidden Love and The First Frost narratives. The First Frost makes for a strong independent watch, but knowing its connection to Hidden Love offers a deeper understanding of the 2023 C-drama's easter eggs.
